Panayiotou murder case – husband’s lawyers want to see investigation docket in bid to secure bail

LAWYERS for murdered Jayde Panayiotou’s husband are set to apply in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court to have the investigation docket made available to them.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Tsepo Ndwalaza said Christopher Panayiotou’s lawyers would be applying on Friday to get the docket.

He confirmed that last Friday Panayiotou had a brief appearance in court and the issue of the docket was raised.

He said the issue over which court should have jurisdiction to hear the application to get the docket was also raised in court. He could not confirm whether Panayiotou would be in court when his lawyers and the prosecution argued over the application to get the docket. It is believed that Panayiotou’s lawyers are trying to get the docket in a bid to overturn Magistrate Abigaile Beeton’s June ruling that denied him bail.

Should

Panayiotou’s team decide to seek bail, it would be their second application to the Grahamstown High Court to overturn Beeton’s ruling.

His appeal for bail was dismissed by the Grahamstown High Court in July. He was initially denied bail on June 5, with Beeton ruling that Panayiotou could be a flight risk and that there was a chance he could interfere with state witnesses.

The body of his wife, a 29year-old schoolteacher, was found on the outskirts of KwaNobuhle township in Uitenhage in April, a day after she disappeared.

She was assaulted, thrown into the boot of a car and shot twice in the back and once in the head.

Along

with

Sizwe

Prince Vumazonke, the triggerman that he is alleged to have hired, Panayiotou faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. – ANA